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: ObjectivesTo investigate in vitro natural killer (NK) cell activity and expression of signal-transducing ζ chains in patients with cervical cancer.: Patients and methodsExperiments were performed with frozen lymphocytes from patients at all disease stages and from healthy controls. Thawed NK were activated by overnight incubation in interferon-γ (IFN-γ); activity against two target cell lines was assessed by 4-h 51Cr release assay. Targets chosen were K562, an erythroleukemic cell line, and a cervical carcinoma cell line designated 808. T and NK cell ζ chain expression was measured by flow cytometry.: ResultsPatients’ NK were found to be as cytotoxic as those of normal controls against cell lines K562 and 808. Patient T and NK cells did not show significant down-regulation of the ζ chain.: ConclusionsWe have found no evidence to suggest that loss of ζ chains is a mechanism for immunocompromise in patients with cervical carcinoma. IFN-recoverable patient NK activity is not reduced compared to matched controls. This may be clinically relevant since NK are active against cells exhibiting class I human leukocyte antigen (HLA) down-regulation and many cervical cancers show loss of HLA. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]